Wasserman Schultz Applauds Court’s Ruling Against Gay Adoption Ban

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-20) made the following statement with regard to this week’s unanimous decision by Florida’s Third District Court of Appeals striking down Florida’s anti-gay adoption ban as unconstitutional.  Florida is the only state in the nation with a blanket ban on adoption by gays and lesbians.

“As a mother of three children, and as a founding Vice Chair of the GLBT Equality Caucus in the United States Congress, I was overjoyed to learn that a Miami appeals court has upheld the decision that struck down Florida’s painful and harmful anti-gay adoption ban as unconstitutional.

“This ban serves no other purpose than to deny thousands of children the opportunity to live in permanent, loving homes,” said Rep. Wasserman Schultz. “Instead of disqualifying an entire class of Floridians to be adoptive parents, we should instead focus on the best interests of children.  All loving, well-qualified parents–gay and straight–should be permitted to adopt.

“My heart goes out to Martin Gill and his family.  I hope the Florida Supreme Court quickly affirms this ruling so that the Gill foster children can legally become the permanent adopted children of the father they have come to know and love.”